Whitecaps Near Midwest League Record For Shutouts

It has been a phenomenal season for the West Michigan Whitecaps. The spirited youngsters won the first half Midwest League title, securing a playoff berth, and they're on pace to win the second half as well.

But the pitching staff has been whitewashing opponents at a rate not seen since 1974.

If you haven't been out to Fifth/Third Ball Park to catch this year's edition of the Caps, what are you waiting for? They are a fun group to watch, and recently they added hot prospect Isaac Paredes, who was acquired from the Cubs organization by their parent Detroit Tigers in exchange for relief pitcher Justin WIlson and catcher Al Avila.

But it's the team's pitching staff that is on fire.

That shutout broke the team record for the most shutouts in a season, which they had just set on July 29. And they are now just two games away from setting the Midwest League record of 23 shutouts in a season set in 1974 by the team in the Quad Cities (they're now know as the River Bandits, but back then they were the Angels). That pitching staff was led by former major league pitcher John Verhoeven, who played for four years for the Angels, White Sox and Twins.

This year's Whitecaps pitching corps has been paced by MWL All Star Greg Soto (below), who ran his record to 10-1 by tossing six innings of shutout ball last night.

Whitecaps Baseball

Other pitchers doing well for the Caps are starters Anthony Castro, Alfred Gutierrez and Eudis Idrago and reliever Locke St. John.

The crowds this season have been matching the play of the team with the games over the last few weeks drawing over 8000 fans to Fifth/Third.